(Chapter 2: The Awakening Part 2)
THWACK!
"Ah!"
Nozomi had swung her newly acquired long stick hard, sending Reno flying off his feet and onto the ground with a mighty slam! This made dust kick up from the playground floor. For it had turned out sadly as she had predicted, Wairu had failed to cast a spell and, it had instead backfired on him. Which left him open to an attack by Reno, who, after sending him off his feet, had laughed at him and his pain, causing her to strike back hard.
Quiet, she watched as Rude and Elena ran to assist him. With a sigh, she bent down to Wairu, asking him with concern, "Are you okay?"
But as she tried to help with a hand down, he pushed it away, telling her, "Don't touch me!"
This made her stare at him with shocked wide eyes. As he got up fast, still covered in dust. She hadn't seen the look on his face, but she knew it couldn't be positive, for he wouldn't even look at her.
She watched him quietly as he finally went to grab his discarded hat. But before his fingers could meet its familiar soft blue material, it was quickly snatched up again!
"Hey!" Hearing Wairu cry this out, Nozomi saw that the one who had taken her friend's item was the head honcho of the group...Rufus.
In his long white puffer jacket coat and grey trousers, with his stroked back blonde hair, he looked at Wairu's distressed face tauntingly with a smug smile and blue eyes. He grabbed one end of the hat and pulled hard at it, tearing the seams apart!
Upset, Nozomi cried out, "Rufus, stop it!"
He ignored her, and-!
RRRIIIPPP!
The hat was torn, making it unwearable now. Rufus threw it down to the floor again before-!
STOMP!
He ground it hard into the floor with his black sneaker, destroying what resemblance of style it had left. Nozomi couldn't believe it! Mad, she shouted, "What did you do that for!? Why-!"
"Because nobody likes magic users around here," he mocked as he went past Wairu. Then finally, standing a little distance before Nozomi, he told her point blank, "And nobody cares for a cursed child like you!"
Feeling a heavy pain in her heart, Nozomi bit her lip. Gripping the stick in her hand tightly, wanting to just-!
"Now, why don't you run on home to your empty parent-less shack? We've better things to do than conversing with negative space like you!" With that, he walked straight back to his gang.
Nozomi quiet was shocked at this. She didn't have parents, but to bring this up just to have a one-up on her! That was way too much! Angry, she recovered her nerve and started to charge forwards to confront Rufus!
"I hate this!"
It was then Wairu walked past her, upset and there she saw tears lining his eyes!
Her rage faded in seconds to be replaced with her concern again, she reached out to try and grab her friend, but he dodged her touch and ran away with his destroyed hat in hand, leaving through the school gate.
"Wairu!" She couldn't stop him; she knew he was in deep terrible pain. Putting her hand to her chest, she wondered what she should do? How could she help to-!
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Hearing this loud release of laughter, Nozomi turned and saw Rufus laughing with Reno and Rude joining in.
She couldn't believe them! How could they be this heartless!? Then she saw Elena looking torn. She looked at Nozomi briefly before looking away uncomfortably.
Nozomi knew why this was. Though they used to be friends long ago, as children. She now couldn't be involved with someone supposedly cursed by a monster. Even if that was all because of something that happened long before she was even born!
She hated all this and, mad, she shouted out, "Eat dirt, Rufus!" With that, she swung the stick from her hand hard and-!
CLONK!
"Owww!"
It hit Rufus hard, straight in the back, making him fall face forwards into the playground dirt!
"Why you-!"
Nozomi didn't care for their protests as she had sped out through the school gate too. She ran as fast as she could, hoping that she could heal at least some of the hurt! She had to go and find Wairu.
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Pete stared in shock as he watched the once-covered figure stare at him quietly with those green eyes for what seemed like forever. Then they finally looked at Maleficent. It appeared that this person was still trying to slowly wake up as they studied him and her.
There was silence again for many more moments as the calculated staring continued. Pete didn't know what to think of this strange person, but he could now feel that power that Maleficent was talking about, as it seemed to radiate out from their very core, making his hair stand on end. It made him shiver just to be in the same room as this individual.
Then suddenly, a voice asked slowly, with a tired, cold tone as it turned towards Maleficent, "Are you the one who summoned me?"
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Nozomi running as fast as she could was worried terribly for Wairu. Since their younger days, Wairu would always get picked on because of his ability to use magic and its peculiarity of backfiring against him only made it worse. She'd always come to the rescue when she could, but she knew it hurt him deep down. He loved the craft so much, but it led to him feeling embarrassed and near powerless...
Stopping to catch her breath, she tried to recover her composure. Then quietly, she walked around the corner before finally finding Wairu, huddling in the shadow of the old Satsuma tree beside a shrine. It was located before her Dojo and was often a favorite play area for them in childhood.
Walking over to him quietly, she sat beside him and tried to initiate conversation, uttering softly and sadly with a small smile, "Hey…?"
Wairu didn't say a word. Gripping his destroyed hat, he glanced at her before looking away, clearly trying to rid his eyes of tears.
Nozomi could feel it. He really didn't want to talk then. Feeling regret for what had happened before the bullying, she lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean what I said earlier, and, just so you know, I got back at Rufus at least for you."
….
Wairu didn't reply for a while as the birds overhead continued to sing their songs, and the sun shone on high above. His hat tightly in his pained grip, he finally said, "You must think of me as being pathetic, don't you?"
Nozomi, hearing this, couldn't believe it and asked, "What would make you think I ever thought anything like that about you!?"
"Well, c'mon, that's what everyone else thinks! What kind of pathetic wizard keeps letting his own spells hit him and be unable to defend himself against bullies..." Wairu uttered, clearly, loathing himself.
"Well, I don't!" Nozomi told him, mad and added, "You've never been pathetic, not to me!" Then holding her knees, she said, "And I mean, you have life easier than me in loads of ways, at least you're not considered cursed... and you have your mom too."
As this was said, Wairu was quiet. Then he had to admit, resting his head against the tree, "Yeah... that's true." However, as he looked at Nozomi, who was now staring toward her knees, he couldn't help but add, "I just wish there was more I could do for you... you're the only person who's ever wanted to befriend a freak wizard like me."
Nozomi released a small, sad chuckle and replied, "Thanks, I suppose..." However, looking at him, she couldn't help but ask, "But hey? At least we're freaks together, right?"
Finally, again, Wairu smiled properly then and said, "Yeah, we are. I'm glad that's the one thing that lets us stick together." To which he patted her back gently.
Nozomi then smiled brightly and said, "Yeah, same!" Though some of the sadness eased away, she folded her arms and said, trying to think hard, "But you know, we have got to work on this somehow! We've got to find out what causes that to keep happening to you! It would make my job easier in protecting you at least!"
As she said this, Wairu would usually laugh himself. But this time, he told her, "You know I really don't want to have you do that anymore."
Surprised, Nozomi's smile dropped as she became worried and asked, "What do you mean?"
Wairu then told her, looking up to the sky, "I want to grow up… I don't want you to defend me so much anymore! I want to be able to look after myself without having to rely on you so much..."
Saddened by this, she asked, "Is it because I'm unreliable?"
"No!" Wairu told her, and then as she looked at him, he told her, "Because I want to protect you for a change...I want to do better, to be stronger."
Blinking, Nozomi smiled and said, "Yeah, same, I wanna do better for you too..." With this on her mind, she quickly said, patting her knees, "Okay! That's it! I've decided!"
Puzzled, Wairu asked her, "On what?"
"On what we can do!" She smiled, with that she got up quickly and reaching her hand down to him, she said, "And it starts with you coming with me!"
Curious at what she cooked up, Wairu asked, "To go where?"
"To my place!" With that, she grabbed his hand and hurriedly pulled him up. She said, "C'mon! Let's go!"
"Hey! Not so fast! Whoa!" Wairu cried out, unable to keep up with her momentum as he was pulled back onto his feet and dragged into the domain of the Dojo she called home.
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SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
The Heartless had all now begun crawling along the corridor that Maleficent and Pete had wandered down a little while ago. The monsters were starving, wishing for nothing more than to devour more hearts as the dark hunger they all possessed was hideously insatiable.
Their swarms had all finally arrived at the hidden, sealed doorway. They could feel that mysterious pulsating power. Its scent drew them in even more closely, for inside was something powerful and menacing.
Then as they all clawed and gnawed at the door, desperate to get inside, it suddenly opened! There in the middle of the opened way stood a silent black cloaked figure. From this being, they could all sense it! They all leaped and ran in huge swarms to devour the being and gain this powerful force! They all knew at once that it was this power that they all truly desired to devour!
But before they came within inches of damaging them with their sharp claws, the figure moved their hand back behind themselves!
FLASH!
From it, a burning red glow appeared and radiated with extreme power. The force extended and morphed, and it quickly took on the form of a long dark blade. But it was no ordinary weapon for the ends of it, and the hilt seemed to burn with a fierce light. In seconds as these burning ends curved along with the hilt, they made the blade become like a key.
A Keyblade…
Then as the blade took its shape, an almighty burning red force overflowed from the figure as it took flight with power! The resonating wave destroyed a whole circle of these heartless!
FLASH!
Floating in the air for a moment, the Keyblade sparked angrily red with thunderous energy! As its power grew, the figure moved its arms, and with a tight grip, it dove down and plunged the Keyblade deep into the ground, sending an enormous field of fierce electrical sparking red energy all the way down the corridor!
ZZZAAAPPP!
This caused all the heartless to explode! Revealing a sea of hearts that floated quickly away into the air.
Outside the dark portal was another batch of Heartless who were trying desperately to get through this mysterious swirling entrance. But suddenly-!
BLAST!
They were all flying back, scattering into the air left and right as the cloaked figure emerged from within it, glowing with thunderous red power.
But before these air-thrown Heartless could even hit the ground, the red light from the figure grew stronger! Then-!
RRRIIIPPP!
From their cloaked back, a pair of giant metallic and wired white sail wings ripped through the sleek black fabric! They were beaten rapidly as they opened up wide, and the figure taking off into the air moved quicker than the eye could see! Striking all the Heartless in a full circle, making more hearts appear as they all disintegrated into dark embers. The figure landing for a moment with its opened wings knelt down. As its power increased again, it quickly ascended into the air as they continued to glow more strongly with that powerful, mysterious red energy. Its pulsating radiance grew bigger and bigger by the second!
Making it outside the castle, this massive, unstoppable force of energy gathered as it thundered powerfully, making the ground shake and tremble! The Heartless who were witnessing this unbelievable spectacle were quickly being slaughtered as they were no match against this energy!
SHINE!
The released hearts were then brought together in a vast whirling storm of energy that crackled and shined as they were all turned into a pair of enormous red angry burning wings that joined with the one who had liberated them. The cloaked figure in the centre of this unbelievable sight turned themselves high in the air with their newly acquired wings. Then flying higher into the heavens, their aim was set upon the ruined remains of Kingdom Hearts!
….
Everything was drowned in ominous silence. Then the figure moved its arms upwards. In moments following the silent orders of this gesture, the wings gathered and quickly merged into one tall pillar of red light! It took on the form of an enormous sharp blade! Their preparations were complete; the figure then swung both their arms down!
SMASH!
This made the enormous blade quickly swing down and cut into the seemingly unbreakable mighty ruined light above the castle of the Nobodies!
Cracks emerged as the broken spectacle grated against this thunderous power!
FLASH!
A pulse from the figure was sent into the blade, making it flash violently with power! The sound of cracking increased more and more until-!
BLAST!
Light blasted out everywhere, quickly replaced by the sounds of countless mysterious shapes shattering, as the millions upon millions of hearts flooded out of the sky, creating a rain of glowing pink to flood everywhere!
Seeing their work was done, the figure closed their green eyes, and in moments, the red burning wings vanished, leaving behind their own metallic wings. As the many hearts they had used descended, they all floated around them, hauntingly almost like a dance. As though they wished to be freed...
STEP...STEP...STEP...STEP...
Footsteps were then heard from below. As the figure turned around, they saw below their new acquaintances. Sensing they would be asked for more, they quickly floated down to arrive before them both.
Maleficent looking at the figure, had a proud smile on her face as the hearts danced around her too, while Pete looked at the figure in stunned awe. But he was also feeling nervous, for the power this one person held was horrifying!
The figure finally landed on the floor again, walked over to Maleficent, and kneeled down before her. It said, "Your wish has been carried out... my Master…."
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Quickly getting up the stairs and entering her bedroom with Wairu. Thereupon the wooden floorboards in a few cardboard boxes were all her shiny treasures and trinkets, which were acquired from their many treasure hunts in the past. They all glittered warmly in the light as though bidding her a welcome home.
Smiling, Nozomi quickly let go of Wairu's hand and told him, "Just wait one second! I'll go root it out!" With that, she ran to her bed.
"Root what out?" Wairu asked her, still curious as to why she had brought him there?
"You'll see!" She said brightly as she pulled up her blanket and scavenged underneath the wooden futon frame.
Wairu stared at her for a few moments and turned away with a sigh. Then looking to the wall beside him, he saw the tallying Nozomi had done in her earlier younger days with purple crayons. A count that she had made tracking down how many days her Master had been gone for, as he looked about and saw more of these innocent scribbles. He knew it counted to a hundred, at which only then had she finally stopped...
Saddened seeing this and remembering their conversation from earlier, he remembered she had been straining herself all that time to keep smiling, trying to remain strong. When that triple-digit number had come along, it was only then that she had broken down and cried...
Gripping his fist as he remembered this fact, he walked over to look through the wooden panel window. Staring through it, he could see the entire town with everything glowing brightly in the sun's orange glow. Though it was pretty, it was also melancholic. This sight never changed in Bamboo Town.
For there had to be something better for them than this town. For at this point, it was nothing but a prison for them both that held them down by the memories of nostalgia. But the biggest shackle holding Nozomi down to this place was one person. Her Master.
Thinking of that man and his long red coat, he hated him! Causing pain to her, making her hold onto a promise that was beyond broken now! Dooming her to isolation and if he and his mother hadn't been there for her. He couldn't imagine that the same cheery, spunky could exist.
Looking back to Nozomi again, he saw she was still busy looking for whatever was under her bed. He regarded her sadly. For though he was grateful for her positive and loyal nature, which had led them to be best friends all this time. She was also too naïve, believing her Master would one day come through the stone gateway and return to her.
Closing his eyes, he remembered how often in the past, as children he had begged her to come and live with him and his mother in their house, but the same reply from her, 'I can't leave the house alone! My Master will be home someday... I have to be here to meet him!'
Then opening his eyes, he looked at her and wondered if she still felt that way? He hadn't brought it up in a long time... but maybe it was about time to bring up another idea he'd been wondering about for a while now...
"Got it!" Came a happy response as Nozomi had finally found what she was after!
As Wairu looked toward her, he saw Nozomi walking over. Her hands behind her back, she asked him, "You ready?"
"I don't hear a drum roll," he joked.
She let out a small giggle at this, finally bringing up her closed right hand. Opening it up, she revealed what she'd found.
Looking on, Wairu saw that she had brought out a small tear-shaped pearl bead with a golden cap. Puzzled as he stared at this gift, he asked, "What's this supposed to be for?"
Nozomi looked to the pearl with a gentle smile and explained, "Well, I was thinking this would be a good way for us to confirm our promise, to do better... so we can get started with it." With that, she touched her own pink Sakura clip softly that was in her hair and said, "Like my Master did for me a long time ago," then remembering his words, she recited, "Until I return, be strong…."
Wairu stared at her quietly. He didn't know what to say then...
"Well, at least I hope it will help out. I just want this to be a good luck charm in a way, but," quiet in pause, she realized quickly and said, "Oh! You probably don't want something like jewelry anyway, sorry I-!"
"It's fine," he told her.
She was clearly surprised as she blinked and said, "Really?"
Wairu nodded and said, "Yeah, I'll take it."
Silent for a moment, Nozomi though brightened and said, "Great! Here you go then!" With that, she passed it over to him.
"Thanks, Nozomi," he told her. Then as he looked at it... he decided on something, "I think I'll improve this a little bit."
She looked at him curiously and asked, "Improve it?"
Instead of explaining, Wairu performed instead!
GLOW!
His eyes closed, he concentrated his right hand over the pearl and quickly, in seconds, the golden cap twisted and turned, as the metal seemed to become almost like liquid! It moulded itself over and over before finally-!
SHINE!
It was transformed into a clip with more golden beads connected to the pearl itself! As the magic faded away, Nozomi was amazed at this simple spell!
Then as she looked at him, Wairu opened up the clasp and put the beaded earring on his left ear. As he did, he asked her, "Does it look good?"
Nozomi nodded enthusiastically and told him, "Yeah, it looks great on you! You're so amazing with magic!" Then she couldn't help but joke, adding, "I'd almost call you handsome!"
Surprised by this, Wairu felt a blush coming to his cheeks. But coughing, not wanting to be caught out, he asked her, "And what is it that's stopping you?"
"Your attire, cause at this point, you still look like one of those dream clowns that appear in kid picture books!"
Wairu rolled his eyes and said, "And here we go with the clown talk again!" But looking at Nozomi, he could tell that she didn't mean any harm, and smiling, he told her, "Well, I guess that's something else I can change gradually."
"I'll be looking forward to that!" Then remembering, she said, "Oh yeah! I got some fresh Watermelon slices in the fridge downstairs. Hang on, I'll go and fetch them!"
Seeing her go, Wairu quickly said, "Nozomi wait a minute!"
"Hm?" Curious, she turned to look back at him.
Wairu voiced his thoughts as she did, "There was something I wanted to ask you..." With that gripping his hand in determination, he asked her, "I was thinking as soon as we graduate, do you want to leave this town?"
Surprised, Nozomi was quiet for a couple of moments before she asked, "Leave Bamboo Town?"
Nodding, Wairu explained, "Yeah! I thought if we do, maybe we can find a better life beyond here and maybe we could find your Master! Do you think-!"
"Ah, I'll just get our food!" Nozomi responded, clearly unnerved as she went running down the stairs! "Give me a minute!
"Nozomi!" He cried out, however, seeing her go. He wondered, "Maybe I came on a bit too strong?"
VOOM...!
Hearing this strange sound, he turned around puzzled when-!
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Making it down the corridor, Nozomi turned another corner, where she finally made it to the kitchen. Her smile was gone as she stood in front of the fridge. It was decorated with various colored magnets that held pictures of her, Wairu and his mother together.
Her smile was gone. She was deep in thought. She was asking herself, "Leave Bamboo Town?" For the idea of this was something she had considered too. For she had been waiting so long...maybe it was finally time she went to find her Master herself. But then one other frightening possibility existed as well as the hopeful one...
Opening the white door and grabbing the plate that held the cool Watermelon slices, she asked, "But what if he's not there at all when we go look...?"
Her fingers gripped the plate, dreading the idea of that being true. For she had been waiting so long there in the Dojo, she didn't want his extended absence to confirm the terrible truth of what could have happened to him.
Biting her lower lip, not wanting it to be true, she shook her head. However, at this point, she knew this wasn't the thing she should be doing. Finally closing the door to the fridge, she said, "Nothing's set in stone yet! I can't fret like this!"
With that, she walked back down the corridor, thinking aloud to herself, "But... I guess if Wairu's changing?" She then looked at the orange light shining through the window beside her front door. Looking at it, she realized, "I should change too... that's what you'd want for me, isn't it, Master?" To which she put a hand to her pink Sakura hairclip.
Then after this silent soft, warm touch, she brought her hand down and giggled, saying, "What am I even talking about here? I'm getting too deep before we've even had the conversation!" With that, she started climbing the stairs saying, "Well, we already made a promise to become better! I might as well include that too! It'd be something to look forward to after graduation!" But as she left-!
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Something dark and haunting was scratching into the front door as countless black shapes with glowing yellow eyes were beginning to peer through the window...!
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Making it to her room, Nozomi told him, "Sorry for the wait, Wairu! I was-!"
"Urgh!"
Stopped in her tracks, Nozomi saw somehow someone dressed in a black cloak had made it into her room! Wairu struggled against them badly, as they held him with a tight neck lock! She heard him say, wincing, "Let go!"
"Wairu!?" Nozomi worried for him, knew he couldn't use his magic if one or both of his arms were held back. Dropping the plate, she cried out, "Let him go!" She rushed to help but-!
"Don't come closer!" He told her, desperate!
Nozomi stopped in her tracks! She felt paralyzed. She wanted to save him! But with what!? She had nothing that would-!
"So it's you?" Hearing the hooded figure, Nozomi listened to a female voice, and as she did, she didn't respond as they continued to say, "Another Vessel?"
Nozomi didn't understand. She repeated, puzzled, "Vessel?"
Wairu had to do something! "Get off me!" With those words-!
SPARK!
He tried to ignite thunder magic within his fingertips!
Worried that he'd hurt himself more, Nozomi cried out, Wairu don't-!"
The figure, though moved first and-!
ZAP!
"AAAGGGHHH!"
Horrified, Nozomi saw that her childhood friend was inflicted with a terrible red pulse of power!
"Wairu!?" Nozomi didn't hesitate anymore! She charged forwards to try and stop this horror from happening! But-!
VOOM!
"What!?" Suddenly a shadow came forth from underneath the cloaked figure! It grew in size and quickly from its dark depths. Many yellow haunting eyes climbed out from it!
Staring on, Nozomi saw strange creatures she'd never seen before! They were dark like shadows, and as they looked at her with their eerie glowing eyes, she thought they looked something like a mesh of insects and aliens, as their antenna swished back and forth upon their heads.
"What the heck-!?" But she had no time to speak as suddenly the monsters leapt forward to attack her!
"Agh!" Quickly, she jumped back and forth, trying her best to not get struck by these terrible monsters! As she dodged, suddenly-!
SMASH!
The cloaked figure smashed her bedroom window, dragging Wairu's helpless form through the broken panes! Panicked, she cried out, reaching a hand to him, "Wairu!"
At her call, he tried to reach out to her, uttering in pain, "No...zo-!" But it was too late and-!
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
He was dragged out of her sight and lifted into the air by the sounds of flapping wings!
"Hey, wait!" She shouted, running straight to her window. She somehow managed to dodge the monsters as she ran to the window. Looking outside fast, she tried to see where they'd gone! She couldn't see them! Then-!
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Turning, she saw the monsters were all coming straight for her! "Agh! Not again!" She was in a bad spot! There was only one way out! Quickly she moved and, making it through the window, she grabbed the nearby tall pipe next to her!
Holding onto it for dear life, she ascended as best she could, praying desperately while trying to get to the roof, "Please don't break! Please don't break! Please don't break!"
Struggling with some difficulty and sweating with anxiety, she, fortunately, managed to make it to the roof of the Dojo! Climbing over the tiles, she stopped to catch her breath, saying, "Okay! Okay! Where, where are they!" Getting up, she carefully ran along the rooftop, trying to find any trace of Wairu and the cloaked figure!
As she moved, it was then she heard-!
"AAAGGGHHH!"
A terrified shriek! However, it wasn't Wairu! Looking to where she thought she heard it, her eyes fell upon Bamboo Town. There she saw massive hordes of those terrible dark monsters everywhere on the streets, chasing down innocent people! The whole town was covered in burning red flames and destruction, with terror striking its helpless inhabitants!
Gasping, Nozomi covered her mouth in disbelief! What was happening!?
VOOM...!
Hearing a strange noise, Nozomi looked up. There she was! The dark figure who'd taken Wairu! However, they no longer had her friend in their arms! Their hands, instead were closing a dark pulsating portal. Looking at her, Nozomi cried out mad, "Wairu! What have you done with Wairu!?"
The figure at first didn't respond as they stood aloft in the air. Finally, Nozomi noticed that the figure had enormous metallic wings that held them aloft in the air! She didn't understand who were they?
However, before she could demand or ask any questions, the figure turned its head to look down at her. Then in seconds, her face was revealed as she removed her hood. Nozomi saw she had bright green eyes, with three purple diamond marks underneath them, along each cheek. She also had long brown-coloured hair tied back with a green hair band. It was also spiked somehow behind her, with two long trailing bangs on either side of her face. Making her sight one would never forget. She stared at Nozomi coldly.
Nozomi looking at the girl, didn't know what to say! But-!
VOOM...!
Hearing this terrifying sound again, Nozomi turned down to see another vast shadow again that covered the entire roof. Those monsters were back as they pulled themselves out from the eerie darkness!
She froze in fright, seeing their huge clusters! There was no way to get away from them now! 'What do I do!?' Her mind wondered fast in alarm, then-!
SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL!
The shadow beneath her quickly wrapped her legs in terrible dark tendrils, stopping any chance for her to move! She couldn't do anything now! Then-!
SWISH!
One of the creatures came to strike her with its deadly claws! Horrified, Nozomi lifted her arms up protectively! As she did this-!
GLOW!
Suddenly a turquoise blue light began to glow brightly from within her! Looking down at herself, shocked, not understanding where this was coming from, it was then-!
SHINE!
"Huh!?"
The monster was thrown back a distance! Shocked, she even saw some of the shadows had disappeared beneath her! Looking at the object in her hands, she saw that it looked like a sword, but it looked like a key too somehow? It was purple, blue, and white with its end formed into a gold crescent moon with a matching coloured star shape in its middle. It glittered with white wings and stars.
"What is going on!?" But before she could voice anything else-!
SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL!
SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL!
SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL!
SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL!
Numerous tall, long-shaded sharp, clawed hands suddenly started to try and grab her from the dark swirling depths surrounding her! As she shivered, though, it was quickly then on Nozomi's feet beside her ankles, white shining wings suddenly grew!
Feeling them, Nozomi looked down and cried out, "That's-!" but she didn't have time to think! She needed to move! Quickly she did, and in seconds, she ascended into the air jumping straight out of the long reach of the monsters!
As she ascended, overwhelmed by all this sudden change, she felt something moving from within her! As she did, she looked at the green-eyed girl. Who was she? Why had-!
But it was too late. Nozomi's consciousness began to fade as everything around her body started to shine brighter and brighter with white light! Then before she was fully absorbed by this illumination. The cold girl's voice uttered, "And so it has begun…."
(Art found: www . Deviantart Lrme87)